Women's Voices Take Front And Center At Irvington Town Hall Theater

Irvington Town Hall Theater (ITHT) is thrilled to celebrate Black History Month with a one night only fully staged reading of Ntozake Shange's ground-breaking play for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf presented by 4th Wall Theatre on Saturday, February 24th at 7:30pm.

From its inception in Berkeley, California in 1974 (by Shange and four of her close friends) to its highly acclaimed critical success at Joseph Papp's Public Theater and transfer to Broadway, the Obie Award-winning play has excited, inspired, and transformed audiences all over the country. Shange passionately weaves together 20 separate poems with music, movement, and narratives to tell fearless stories of love, empowerment, struggle, and loss. These stories reveal what it means to be a person of color as well as a strong female navigating their ways through the world.

The cast consists of seven nameless African-American women only identified by the colors they are assigned. The women in the 4th Wall production are Mimi B. Francis, Tasha R. Williams, Sheleah Harris, Dana P. Hawkins, Samille Ganges, Lynette Sheard, and Lauren Pope Forbes. The show is directed by Gwen Ricks-Spencer, 4th Wall founding member, and current Executive Director.

"Shange's play, while specifically sharing the experience of women of color, also provides a lesson in Black feminism, which holds that sexism, class oppression, gender identity and racism are inextricably bound together," says Ricks-Spencer. "I find that particularly interesting right now, given the recent acknowledgment of the role African-Amercan women have played in prominent political races and their willingness to come out and vote as a block that cannot be ignored."

The 90 minute show contains mature subject matter; please use discretion when considering bringing children under 16. The show will be followed by a brief discussion for those who are interested. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at: http://bit.ly/4WT_forcoloredgirls

Tickets are $22 general and $20 for students and seniors. Ticket fees are always cheaper if purchased in advance online. Irvington Town Hall Theater is located at 85 Main Street in Irvington NY. Entrance on N. Ferris Street.